Dental veneers are porcelain restorations that a dentist can use to cover an area of imperfection in the front of the smile. Dr. Monti Harpalani encourages patients to consider these restorations when they have problems with their anterior teeth, including:

Permanent staining

Misalignment

Spacing concerns

Unusual shape and size

Fractures or chips

Trauma

Porcelain veneers are essentially very thin facings that are custom-made to bond over the front of the teeth to disguise problems such as those above. These restorations are strong and long-lasting, making them the perfect solution for patients seeking a more permanent option for their smile. Porcelain veneers are popular because they are affordable, long-lasting, and natural-looking.

Who is a candidate for porcelain veneers?

Patients who have issues with the teeth near the front of their smile may benefit from using these restorations to cover the imperfections and improve the overall appearance of their teeth. Because they are extremely natural looking, they are difficult to discern from the rest of the teeth. The best candidates for these restorations are patients who have imperfections on the front of their smile that they would like to address, and who have healthy smiles free from periodontal disease and tooth decay.

Will a veneer protect my tooth?

In some cases, it may. Placing a porcelain veneer over a natural tooth can offer moderate protection against breakage. However, the veneer will break and need to be replaced if patients have trauma to the tooth or crack the veneer chewing on hard objects such as ice. Patients should avoid chewing ice or other hard objects when they have veneers placed to avoid breaking them. Additionally, veneers will not protect the teeth from problems such as cavities. The tooth structure underneath is still susceptible to most of the same dental concerns as natural teeth. Patients with porcelain veneers are urged to visit their dentist regularly for x-rays to monitor the health of the tooth structure underneath. Patients who have conditions such as bruxism, which is clenching and grinding of the teeth during sleep, will also want to consider the use of a night guard to protect their natural teeth and porcelain veneers from damage.

Will my porcelain veneer stand out?

At Vivid Dental, we ensure that all our dental restorations look completely natural when integrated into the smile. Dr. Monti Harpalani works closely with the ceramist fabricating restorations like veneers to ensure that they look just like the natural teeth. He matches color, size, and shape of the existing teeth so that once the veneer is bonded in place, it will not stand out as a dental restoration, but blend in with the natural smile. This cosmetic enhancement is important, and with the care and attention given to restorations by our dentist, patients can rest easy knowing they won’t look like they’ve had dental work completed.

How do I care for my veneers?

Patients can brush and floss their teeth just as they normally would to maintain their veneers. They are urged to visit the dentist at least every six months to monitor their oral health and ensure that problems such as cavities or disease are not developing.

Dr. Monti Harpalani and his team in Houston, TX provide area patients with cosmetic solutions to enhance their smile, and cosmetic treatments such as dental veneers may provide the improvements patients desire! Contact our dentist by calling (281) 809 4902 and visiting the office in Suite #200 at 11560 FM 1960 West. We accept new patients of all ages in our state-of-the-art practice for general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry solutions.